The greatness of Arthasastra as a study in statecraft is universally acknowledged. It alongwith Mahabharata, are the two most quoted and cited political texts that have appropriately drawn the attention of indologists. They are true representative treatises in the science and art of polity in the same way as Manu’s Dharmasastra is an exposition of the ethico-legal system. Centered around the study of Kingship or Rajya (state) in its institutionalized form and function, these works are more political texts than religious scriptures. They stand as more ancient and classic than Greek, German and Roman literature in terms of contribution to political theory. The question of value-based politics versus stark Machiavellianism, a challenge, stares direct into our face. And on this, the Sanskrit, Pali, Bengali and Hindi texts can surely provide the necessary norms and structures for the existing, uneasy and ramshackle political system inspired by foreign doctrines devoid of legitimacy and ideals. In search of legitimacy, Sanskrit classics make a lasting contribution to the art and science of governance. In modern political discourse, there have been outstanding contribution of Vivekananda, V.D. Savarkar, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Aurobindo Ghosh, Mahatma Gandhi, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Deendayal Upadhyaya, M.S. Golwalkar, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Dattopant Thengde. They do deserve to be systematically organised and presented as India’s contributors to political science discourse in the new millennium. Democratic Politics and Governance in India is an attempt to fill up this gap by providing missing links between the past and present in Indian studies for establishing India’s identity in the field of political knowledge.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR M.M. Sankhdher
Dr. M.M. Sankhsher, (1928-2002) till recently, National Fellow , Indian Council of Social Science Research, Formerly Professor of Political Science, University of Delhi, was an sestablished academic. He had supervised 35 Ph.D. and M.Phil scholars. His name had been included in India Who’s Who, Asia Who’s Who, Indo-Arab Who’s Who, ABI 2001 Man of the Year award, Year 2000 “Kautilya†award by Indo-Canadian Society, Montreal. Dr. Sankhdher had been recipient of fellowships, visiting professorship and grants from Indian Council of Cultural Relations, Indian Council of Social Science Research, University Grants Commission. British Council, Charles Wallace Foundation and London School of Economics (U.K.), Social Science Research Council (Norway), Indo-Shastri Canadian Institute (Canada), International Political Science Association, the Indian Institute of Advance Study, and the Indian Council of Philosophical Research. He has authored: Reflections on Indian Politics; The Concept of Welfare State; The Welfare State; Gandhi, Gandhism and the Partition of India; Understanding Gandhi Today; Democratic Politics and Governance in India; Yogakshema; The Indian Model of Welfare State; and Social Security, Welfare and Polity. Edited Essays on Fobian Socialism; Framesork of Indian Politics; Secularism in India; Dilemmas and Challenges; National Unity and Religious Minorities; Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy. Contributed chapters to 25 books, written “Foreword†to 10 books. He has published 100 articles in professinal journals. Prof. Snakhdher was lately the Chairperson, International Political Science Association Research Committee on Welfare State & Developing Societies, Associate Editor, Encyclopaedia of Hinduism, Life-Member, Bhadarkar Oriental Research Institute, Association of British Scholars, Government’s nominee on Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, International Association of Sanskrit Studies, Member, World Association of Vedic Studies and International Conference of North African and Asian Studies. He had contributed papers and delivered lectures on all continents. He had been India’s delegate to the United Nations in 2000.
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